Searchlight



Julyl 31, 1928.

F. KALKNER SEARCHLIGHT Filed Feb. 5, 1927 WIV y. ...Aj y

Patented July 31, 1928.

UNITED STATES FRIEDRICH KALKNER, OF INIOGEIJDORF, NEAR. NUREMBERG, GERMANY, ASSIGNOR '.lOvv

WESTINGHOUSE ELECTRIC & IMIANTJ'EA.('J'lURINGrl COMPANY, `A CORPORATION 0F PENNSYLVANIA.

SEARCHLIGHT.

Application led February 5, 1927, Serial No. 166,129, and inGermany February 6, 1926.

My invention relates to searchlights and more particularly to lens-changing.mecha-l nisms for alternately positioning either'of two lenses or distributors in front of projectors.

It is sometimes desirable to distribute the light rfrom a projector over a wide path and, at other. times, over a narrow path. My 1nvent-ion utilizes two sets'of lenses for securing this result. One set of lenses is so designed as to secure a wide dispersion of the light, while the other, comprising a set of prisms positioned in a different way, directs the light from the projector into a narrow beam.

An object of my invention is to provide, in connection with a projector, a double set of lensesy which may be alternately positioned infront of the projector.

Another object of my invention is to 'provide means for balancing the weight of one set of lenses against the weight of the other.

Another object of my invention is to provide a lens-changing mechanism which does not materially increase the surface of the searchlight exposed to the wind.

A further object of my invention is to provide a lens-changing mechanism which is simple and sturdy in construction and low in cost of manufacture.

lvly invention may be better understood by reference to the accompanyingdrawings in which like numbers denote like parts:

Figure l is a view, in side elevation, of a t, projector utilizing my invention;

Fig. 2 is a front view'of'my device, partially in elevation and partially in section, the cover being broken away as indicated on the left-hand portion of the drawing; and

Fig. 3 is a top cross-sectional view of my device, taken along the line III- III of Fig. 2.

Referring to Fig. 1, a projector 1 of a conventional type is mounted on a standard 2, which is rotatably mounted on a base 3 in any manner well known to the art. My device is enclosed in a housing 4 which is provided with a rear wall 5 fastened to the front portion 6 of the projector. An opening 7 in the rear wall of the housing 4 is adapted'to coincide with the light aperture of the projector. y

Referring to Fig. 2, the housing 4 coinprises an oval-shape rim 11, the lrear wall 5 and a housing cover l2. Upon the inner edge of the lower portion of the .housing 4 are positioned two brackets 13 and 14,in which a shaft is adapted to be rotatably mounted to extend throughan opening 1G in the side of the housing.

A hand-wheel 17 is fastened-to the outer end of the shaft l5, and two sprocket-wheelsv 20 and 2l are keyed to the shaft 15 inside of the housing. Two brackets 18and`V 19 are mounted inthe upper portion of the housing, and stub shafts 22 and 23, supporting sprockets 24 and v25, are rotatably mounted on the brackets 18and 1 9. Two endless chains 26 and 27 lare mounted on the vopposite sprockets 20 and 24, 21 and 25. Diver-ging lens 3l (Fig. 3) is mounted in -a lower lens frame 32, and a converging lens 33 is mounted in an upper lens frameI '34. Stub shafts 35 and `36, on opposite edges oft-he lens frame 32, are adapted to engage the endless chains 26 and 27 to support the lens 31. In a similar manner, stub shafts 38 and 39 in lensframe 34 are associated with the endless chains to support the lens 33. kBrackets y13 and 18 are adapted to support a guide rod 41, and bracket-s 14,y

and 19vsupportfa guide rod 42.

Referring to Fig. 3, the lensf31 is guided by means of guide rod 4l. Laterally eX- tending stub shafts 43 and 44A in the lens frame 32 are provided with rollers to bear against the guides 4l and` 42, .and similar stub shafts 46 and 47 have rollers bearing against the reverse side of the guides 41 and 42. In this` way, the lenses are held in a vertical position. Coinciding with the light lower horizontal center lines of the lenses when they are in their eXtreme positions. When inoperative, the cover is disposed on rod 52 so that it will be in front of the opening in the lower port-ion of the housing 7, but, when it is desirable to interrupt the light, the cover is moved upwardly along the rod 52 until'it is disposed in liront oi the opening 48.

In operation, if a Wide differential beam is desired, the hand-wheel 17 is revolved in a clockwisedirection ,until the diverging lens 31 is located in front oi' the projector. It a narrow beam is desired, the hand-wheel is rotated in a counter-clockwise direction until the converging` lens 33 is'locatedin iront of the projector. The lenses are so mounted on different yportions of the chains that the weight ot' one will counterbalance the Weight o'l' the other, and thus less effort is required to move them into and `ont of their operative positions. on opposite sides ot' the chains, theywill be so located with respect to each other as to constitute a mutual counter-balance. v

The two lenses or distributors are thus arranged to move in a plane perpendicular to 'the optical axis of the searchlig'ht.

The housing for the distributors may ady vantageously be arranged so that it will occupy the space directly in 'frontot the base, standard and projector. A Vith suoli an arrangement of the distributor casino, the sui'-y n Aface o'l' the device that is exposed to the wind willl'be increased but little, iit any.I and the destructive effect of the wind, particularly where searchlights are located in exposed places, will be avoided'.V

Although one embodiment oi: my invention has been described, other modifications. may be made in my lens-changingl mecha-l nism. For example, the two lenses may. each be mounted on a gear rack, the shaft, handwheel and sprockets may be centrally located in the housing and the sprocllfets thereof, coi-acting` against the ygear racks, maybe arranged to move the lenses intooperative positions. Such modieations my device may be made without dej'iarting trom the spiritand scope of theinvention as defined in the appended claims.

'I claim as my invention:

l. The combination with a projecto-r having a light aperture therein, of means for alternately locating a plurality ot lenses in By mounting the lenses rovesci rality of` lenses, interlocking` means forV alternately movingv said lenses Tin parallel planes in i'ront of, the light aperture in the projector, and a housing adapted' to formV a closure about the lenses and the lens-moving I DiBa/11S. 1

e. In combination with a projector havingy a light aperture therein, an apertured lens housing` mounted on rsaid projector, said housing comprising a frame, a shaft in one with said driving members, and a plurality oit lenses mounted on said Adriven members vigor simultaneous lmovement of thelenses in Y parallel planes bythe drivingrmembe'rs in.y

opposite directions in a direction Vat right angles to the rays oi light from said projector.

5. ln combination with a projector having light aperture therein, an apertured lens housing mounted oiisaid projector comprising a iframe, a shaft in one portion of said traine having a sprocket wheel mounted thereon, a sprocket-wheel mounted` in another portion ot said trame, a chain for operatively connecting said sprocket-wheels,

chains, whereby said lenses may be simultaneously moved alternately in front of and yaway from said light aperture` when said sprocket-wheels are actuated. u

yIn testimony whereof, I have hereunto subscribedmy name-'this 21st day of J anuary, 1927.

rinnnnicn KALKNER.

. portion of said irame provided with coact- 'ing geared driving members, driven inembers mounted in said frame Jfor cooperatingV land means for mounting lenses onv said., 

